They finished Wednesday afternoon after calling witnesses over three days as they sought to counter allegations that Peterson killed his third wife, Kathleen Savio.

Just before the defense rested, Drew Peterson stood in the courtroom to tell the judge he chose not to testify.

The last defense witness was Drew Peterson's 19-year-old son, Thomas Peterson. He told jurors he never believed his father killed his mother. Other defense witness included pathologists who said they concluded that Savio died accidentally.

Drew Peterson was charged in Savio's 2004 death only after his fourth wife, Stacy Peterson, disappeared in 2007.

Prosecutors will have a chance Thursday to start recalling some witnesses to rebut the defense case.